The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #168627   Message #4073263
Posted By: Felipa
26-Sep-20 - 08:58 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Thoir Dhomh do Lamh
Subject: Lyr Add: Thoir Dhomh do Lamh
There are a few songs, poems and tunes with this title, which means Give Me Your Hand (Tabhair dom do lámh in Irish, but I don't know of any song with this phrase which is found both in Ireland and Scotland)

Thoir Dhomh Do Làmh
         Iain MacLeòid

seisd/chorus:
Thoir dhomh do lámh, thoir dhomh do làmh,
’S ged tha an saoghal fada ceàrr,
’S e tha dhith air tuilleadh gràidh -
Thoir dhomh do làmh, thoir dhomh do làmh.

rannan/verses:
Mo sheanair fhin’s do sheanair fhein,
Cha b’ann tric a bha iad rèidh,
Le peilearan a’ murt a chèil’ -
Ach thoir thusa dhomhs’ do làmh.

Is thuit iad fùil an cogadh faoin
Is rinn am fùil lòn dearg mar aon;
An cuirp san uaigh tha taobh ri taobh -
'Nis thoir thusa dhomhs’ do làmh.

Tha mis’ a Nis s tha thus’ a Uig,
’S tha ’m fear ud thall cho dubh ri sùith,
Ach tha iomhaigh Dhé na ghnùis -
Tugainn leam ’s thoir dha do làmh.

Ged tha mise leis a’ Phàp,
Is canaidh tu gu bheil mi ceàrr,
Chan eil ni nach ceartaich gràdh -
Seo mo làmh, thoir dhomh do làmh.

https://digital.nls.uk/an-comunn-gaidhealach/archive/126432497 from the book Starsach, Rosg is ba`rdachd : am Mo`d Ri`oghail Na`iseanta 1892-1992 published by An Comunn Gàidhealach

give me your hand, give me your hand
although the world is far astray
What is needed is more love
Give me your hand

(summary verse 1&2)
my own grandfather and yours spilled blood in the war
their corpses lie side by side in the grave
Now give me your hand

You are from Ness and I am from Uig
That man yonder is as black as soot
But made in the image of God (the image of God is in his face)
Come along with me and give him your hand.

Although I am with the Pope
and you will say that I am wrong
There is nothing that love won't make right
Here is my hand, give me your hand.

recordings include
Alasdair Gillies In this recording he just sings the chorus and the first and last verses. The link is to youtube.

Còisir Òg an Rubha another youtube link. The youth choir of Rubha sing all the verses in this video, preceded by another song called "Togaidh sinn fonn" (we will raise a tune).

Mary Sandeman won the PanCeltic Song Contest in 1976 with "Thoir Dhomh Do Làmh"
According to discography, she did a recording with both Gaelic and English language versions of Thoir Dhomh Do Làmh, credited to Rev. J. Macleod and E. Mc Spence (It is common in Scotland for people to use two versions of their names Iain Mac Leóid = John MacLeod.
http://www.45cat.com/record/spa011

Here is Mary Sandeman singing an English language version. She doesn't sing the verses about different races and religions in this recording.

Give me your hand, give me your hand.
I'm sure the world will understand
Peace and calm to every man,
Give me your hand, give me your hand.

my own grandfather your grandfather too...
they fought and fought until they died
their bodies now lie side by side ...